‘Forces asked to maintain utmost vigil on 26 January functions’: DGP

Security beefed up across state

Srinagar, Jan 24 (KNS): Stating that elaborated security arrangements to be in place for the peaceful conduct of 26 January functions, the Director General of Police Wednesday said that police is fully prepared to deal with any eventuality and that forces have been asked to maintain utmost vigil.
“Security agencies in the state have been maintaining tight vigil in view of Republic Day functions. Forces are fully prepared to deal with any eventuality, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police S. P Vaid told KNS.
The J&K DGP said that while the “known suspects” have been kept under surveillances, the quick reaction teams of the police have been kept ready. “Night domination patrols have been increased and every possible step is being taken to maintain high alert,” the DGP maintained.
Heavy security blanket has been imposed at the MAM stadium Jammu as the main function is going to be held there.
Sources said that the security in and around the venue has been tightened with security men taking positions on flyovers, banks of river Tawi and residential areas surrounding the stadium.
Meanwhile , a senior police official said that , special security check points have been set up at all entry and exit points into the city and major towns, where random frisking of pedestrians and checking of vehicles is being carried out.
In addition, sharp shooters have been deployed in the close vicinity of MAM stadium, the main venue of Republic Day function, the officer said, adding CCTV cameras are being monitored round the clock.
He said that the number of quick reaction teams (QRT) of police has been increased and a large number of PCR vans have been deployed on strategic locations across the State.
Meanwhile according to KNS correspondent, security grid has been increased in the Srinagar city with additional deployment of troops and raised checkpoints at all the sensitive locations.
“We do not want to leave any loophole in context with the security, so the personnel have been directed to maintain vigil and tighten security within the city especially around the venue of Republic Day celebrations,” a senior police official told KNS.
Sources said that the though the state police in assistance with other agencies have tightened the security within the city and the peripheries. However, in view of threats of infiltrations from across the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB), the Army and Border Security Force, has also tightened the vigil along the borders and beefed up the security.
One of the top police official in Srinagar wished not to be named told KNS that stringent arrangements would be in place in Kashmir ahead of the 26 Januaryfunctions. “To thwart any incident, police have laid checkpoints on the entry and exit points of the Srinagar and are maintaining strict on the suspected persons. I can say that all the security agencies are cooperating with each other to ensure incident free functions on January 26,” he said.
The official said that the security men particularly police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been deployed all over the city including Sheir Kashmir Stadium where the main function is going to be held.“We are also taking all necessary measures required for the safe conduct of January 26 functions. The movement of people is also monitored through the Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVs) that are installed at various places in the city,” he said.
Police said that similar arrangements are put in place in other districts of Valley too. Police and paramilitary forces can be seen carrying out searches of all the passenger and private vehicles on the Baramulla-Srinagar highway.
Adequate security has also been deployed inside Baramulla, Sopore and other sensitive areas of District.
Security grid has also been tightened in Pulwama, Shopian and Islamabad districts of South Kashmir, where troops and police manned the streets and the highway to keep a close watch on the movement of suspicious persons.
Meanwhile sources in the police said that the advisory has been issued to maintain utmost vigil in the border areas where militants and security forces have been locked in encounters and the forces have been told not to lower the guard.
It is to mention here that the Jammu and Kashmir police, in an advisory, sought people's cooperation in view of heightened security arrangements and asked officials to maintain a vigil on possible infiltration routes to scuttle nefarious designs of anti-national elements.
“All Station House Officers and in-charges of police posts have been directed to remain present in their respective jurisdiction round the clock,” reads the advisory issued from police headquarters here. (KNS)